Coast Guard searching for possible missing boaters off Gloucester

BOSTON – U.S. Coast Guard crews are currently searching for a boat in distress or two people possibly in the water off Gloucester, Mass., after receiving a Mayday call, Thursday.

Coast Guard Sector Boston received the Mayday call via VHF-FM radio channel 16 around 10:10 p.m., stating a 24-foot pleasure craft was taking on water with two people aboard roughly 20 to 40 minutes outside Gloucester Harbor.

Before losing communication with the Coast Guard, the caller stated both boaters were going to put on their life jackets.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew and a 25-foot Response Boat – Small crew from Coast Guard Station Gloucester began the search and were later joined by Coast Guard Cutter Flyingfish, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat based in Boston.

The Flyingfish, the asset currently on scene, remained on scene throughout the night.

“So far we haven’t had any reports of missing persons or overdue boaters,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Sheena Bannon, a watchstander at the Sector Boston command center. “We are asking anyone who knows of a person who went out last night on a small boat who hasn’t returned to give us a call.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sector Boston Command Center at 617-223-3201.

Sector Boston crews have responded to 185 search and rescue cases since January 2011.